2011 Partners in Charity Appeal concluded at 95%

Partners in Charity appeal concluded near last year’s total

Appeal raised $4,724,352.

September 15, 2011, WORCESTER, MA -- The Office for Stewardship and Development announced today that the annual Partners in Charity appeal ended the year’s campaign on August 31, 2011 after having raised $4,724,352. The total represents nearly 95% of its $5 million goal and was only slightly below last year’s total of $4,804,925.

“The challenges of this economy are felt in every corner of our diocese by our parishioners,” said Most Reverend Robert J. McManus, Bishop of Worcester. “I ask our pastors to join me in a prayer of thanksgiving for the many sacrifices our donors have made and continue to make in order to support the ongoing charitable, educational and pastoral works which rely on this annual appeal.”

The bishop continued, “Although the needs which we must face in these agencies and ministries will continue to be great, with God’s help I am confident that the Catholic Church will bring hope to those who turn to our diocesan programs over the coming year.

Similar to last year, 19,491 donors supported the appeal at an average gift of $242. These donors included 100 St. Paul Society members who contributed on average $7,000 per member. 59 parishes and missions exceeded their goals.

Michael Gillespie, director of the Office of Stewardship and Development as of July 2011, offered his thanks to the people of the diocese and to the pastors who direct the parish appeals. “I also want to thank this year’s diocesan chair couple, John and Mary Lou Anderson, who helped us communicate the need for this appeal so effectively throughout Central Massachusetts,” added Mr. Gillespie.

The annual Partners in Charity appeal is conducted to support agencies and ministries whose outreach is beyond specific parish programs. They include the following:

Charitable Programs: Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Worcester, Clergy Retirement, Retired Priests Health Ministry; Haitian Apostolate, McAuley Nazareth Home for Boys, Pernet Family Health Services, Seminarian Health Insurance, St. John’s Diocesan Cemetery System, Diocesan Development , Stewardship. Educational Support: Catholic Campus Ministry, Catholic Schools Department, Office of Religious Education, Ongoing Priestly Formation, Diocesan Youth Ministry, Grants-in-Aid for Catholic School Students, Seminarian Education, Oakhurst Retreat Center (Retreat programs), Central Catholic Schools Subsidy, Advanced Studies for Clergy and Laity. Ministries: African Ministry, Hispanic Ministry, Office of Marriage and Family, Minister to Priests, Office of the Diaconate, Respect Life Office, St. Paul Cathedral, Vocations Office, Office for Divine Worship.

The final report by parish, by community, is as follows:

Worcester: Blessed Sacrament: $91,505.00 - 83.19%; Christ The King: $128,849.00 - 110.60%; Holy Family: $15,347.00 - 83.05%; Immaculate Concept ion: $99,245.00 - 106.49%; Our Lady of The Angels: $58,250.00 - 100.00%; Our Lady of Czestochowa: $42,000.00 - 100.14%; Our Lady of Providence: $31,534.00 - 82.02%; Our Lady of Loreto: $24,780.00 - 88.63%; Our Lady of Lourdes: $51,284.00 - 102.57%; Our Lady of Mt. Carmel/St. Ann: $35,743.00 - 51.13%; Our Lady of The Rosary: $65,193.00 - 74.61%; Our Lady of Vilna: $25,050.00 - 106.18%; Sacred Heart-St. Catherine of Sweden: $28,609.00 - 90.95%; St. Andrew The Apostle: $12,935.00 - 105.75%; St. Christopher: $27,860.00 - 101.76%; St. George: $111,398.00 - 101.27%; St. Joan of Arc: $34,334.00 - 73.68%; St. John: $67,470.00 - 107.25%; St. Paul Cathedral: $112,595.00 - 105.05%; St. Peter: $49,673.00 - 107.94%; St. Stephen: $49,805.00 - 103.02%.

Ashburnham: St. Denis: $15,388.00 - 66.04%; Athol: Our Lady Immaculate: $33,000.00 - 100.00%; Our Lady, Queen of Heaven Mission: $1,630.00 - 65.20%; So. Royalston: St. Francis of Assisi: $4,835.00 - 75.46%; Auburn: North American Martyrs: $48,930.00 - 100.00%; St. Joseph: $48,699.00 - 64.31%; Baldwinville: St. Vincent De Paul: $14,691.00 - 76.43%; Barre: St. Joseph: $8,555.00 - 122.39%; Berlin: St. Joseph, The Good Provider: $16,170.00 - 80.85%; Blackstone: St. Paul: $14,568.00 - 83.36%; St. Theresa: $26,611.00 - 86.20%; Boylston: St. Mary of The Hills: $50,142.00 - 100.28%; Brookfield: St. Mary: $13,570.00 - 129.42%; Charlton City: St. Joseph: $56,137.00 - 102.07%; Clinton: St. John, Guardian of Our Lady: $91,442.00 - 121.92%; Douglas: St. Denis: $34,412.00 - 107.41%; Dudley: St. Andrew Bobola: $20,896.00 - 119.58%; St. Anthony of Padua: $34,137.00 - 91.57%.

East Brookfield: St. John the Baptist: $17,115.00 - 91.82%; East Templeton: Holy Cross: $12,938.00 - 85.43%; Fiskdale St. Anne & St. Patrick: $43,105.00 - 100.00%; Fitchburg: St. Anthony of Padua: $48,369.00 - 109.93%; St. Bernard: $25,760.00 - 64.40%; St. Francis of Assisi: $20,008.00 - 100.04%; St. Joseph: $35,167.00 - 109.90%; Gardner: Holy Spirit: $14,848.00 - 84.97%; Our Lady Holy Rosary & Sacred Heart: $40,910.00 - 67.53%; St. Joseph: $7,341.00 - 90.02%; Gilbertville: St. Aloysius: $8,110.00 - 92.82%; Grafton: St. Philip: $27,575.00 - 78.90%; North Grafton: St. Mary: $57,230.00 - 90.97%; South Grafton: St. James: $34,496.00 - 105.75%; Harvard/Bolton: Holy Trinity: $80,622.00 - 83.38%; Hopedale: Sacred Heart of Jesus: $48,820.00 - 107.45%; Jefferson: St. Mary: $67,350.00 - 96.35%.

Lancaster: Immaculate Conception: $41,400.00 - 103.50%; Leicester: St. Joseph & St. Pius X: $34,093.00 - 85.23%; St. Aloysius - St. Jude: $31,980.00 - 106.60%; Leominster: Holy Family of Nazareth: $21,015.00 - 100.07%; Holy Trinity Evangelization Center: $4,317.00 - 172.68%; Our Lady of The Lake: $61,828.00 - 101.09%; St. Anna: $39,600.00 - 70.09%; St. Cecilia: $45,790.00 - 91.58%; St. Leo: $88,509.00 - 112.04%; Linwood: Good Shepherd: $31,033.00 - 79.04%; Lunenburg: St. Boniface: $20,055.00 - 117.97%; Manchaug: St. Anne: $7,470.00 - 103.42%; Mendon: St. Michael The Archangel: $21,000.00 - 100.00%; Milford: Sacred Heart of Jesus: $47,840.00 - 53.16%; St. Mary of The Assumption: $71,343.00 - 79.27%; Millbury: Our Lady of The Assumption: $19,815.00 - 103.09%; St. Brigid: $53,205.00 - 101.49%; Millville: St. Augustine: $19,747.00 - 102.73%.